Just had a quick look at some of your match reports from the wins you were picking up when O'Neill took over. To be honest the team isn't that much different to what he's playing now apart from swap Bendtner for Fletcher. Is Fletcher no good at linking up with Sessegnon? Although if you lose and MON's left out your only goalscorer, that looks quite bad.
Sess is being used in the wrong way, a lot of the time behind Fletch, but we are not playing into the channels and creating space centrally for Sess, so when he gets the ball, he's crowded out. As a consequence of the 5 yard passes sideways and back Fletch is having to move constantly to try find space, and as a result the oppo close the door on the wings and Sess, and we have to go back. Personally, I'd have Seb RM & Sess LM, and have AJ inside behind Fletch, AJ has a better shot on him than Sess, and could do more damage. Fletch Sess AJ Gardner Seb Catts That is how I'd roll out the front 6.
SAFC83 What's your point? I'm not getting this at all. Bruce signed a player (highly unlikely that he found him) but didn't use him and O'Neill turned him into one of last season's surprise packages. That's kudos for O'Neill not Bruce, it's not O'Neill's fault that the kid may or may not have an attitude problem. Mush I'd agree with that front 6 but I think Johnson needs to be on the left and not Sessegnon. I think Sessegnon has better vision and anticipation than Johnson and I believe he's still your best player. I can't remember who it was against, Chelsea rings a bell but I'm sure Sessegnon was operating from a deeper position in that match and gave the Chelsea midfield a right going over.
Never in a million miles did I ever think we could play so poorly under a Martin O'Neill management against a spirited but very limited Boro side. Why would you use a measure of distance?
Mush It's great, the cut in and shoot idea until it doesn't work. You need to get Fletcher in the goals again, one way to do that is to whip balls at him all day long. Johnson and Rose can be your Pienaar and Baines (in an attacking sense) get a bit of chemistry on the flanks with fullback and winger to make chances for strikers. We can all debate on how we'd do it I suppose but I guess it comes down to one man, I personally expect him to start making some changes and trying some other things, if he continues with his current set up and systems and nothing changes results-wise then of course the inevitable will happen.
I don't want him gone Terry, I'm at pains to make that clear, what I want, in simplicity, is the best man for the job. If we go to 1 win in 20 (v 10 man Wigan...), can I hoinestly cling on the the chain of thought that MON is that man? The squad is of a very, very good standard indeed, easily top 10, and should be full of goals. It's a ****ing mess man.
I suppose the stats don't fill you with optimism. I'd be inclined to look at helping O'Neill rather than replacing him though. Maybe he hasn't got the best coaches or assistants. I mean, look how Ancelotti (I think) nose dived into oblivion at Chelsea when Ray Wilkins was fired. Maybe you could bring in Ray Wilkins! Maybe you're missing a personality, something small that would make a big change. Like you say, your squad has enough talent to at least score goals.
We've highlighted the fact that all of his success has been alongside Robertson, who declined the role. That would be the ideal solution, for him to have his 'wingman' back on board. Whether it's a goer, looks unlikely.
McFadden? I don't rate the guy but he's there now so why not give him a shot if nobody else is scoring? On a side note, has MON even tried to play Wickham and Fletcher together? Surely that kid is capable of bullying a weak Villa defence.
I personally believe it is situations and belief that turn things around not neccesarily a change of manager. Oneills first game was against blackburn we came from behind to win in injury time thanks to sebs freekick. That wednesday night we beqt qpr with a wes brown injury time header this gave the lads belief that we could win in any situatio take the city game on new years day as an example of that. Also in hindsight blowing a 2 goal lead in the last 5 mins against city the 2nd time round probably killed our belief as weve only beaten wigan since then. Football is a game of swings and roundabouts and you take the rough with the smooth. At the end of the day its the 11 playees on the pitch that determinevthe outcome of a game rarely the manager.
I said a while ago the dressing room was split. Jealousy over AJs wages?, some players getting preferential treatment, not sure but we put a team out there last night, who if they had put some effing effort in would have beat boro (no offence boro) 9 times out of 10. Like Billy D said NOT EVEN TRYING. thats whats annoying. I also said put the Connor, Ji, & Meyler etc in. They might get beat but at least they would give a 100% and try. The overpaid w*nkers on the pitch last night should be dropped. Only Catts and Sess looked anywhere near decent. Fletch once again got no service. If I wasnt a season ticket holder I would not be going on Saturday. Before anybody says this is when we should be supporting our team I want summit back off the f*ckers in return. Commitment for one.
